FIRE

“Fire,” the Resident Assistant bellowed, banging on doors up and down the dorm hallway. “Fire! Everybody out!”

The alarm rang as doors popped open, surprised coeds tumbling out, some wrapping robes over their flannel pajamas, some in sweats and others wearing yesterday’s clothes and surprised expressions.

Mark and Janice shuffled out of her room, Mark grinning - and still zipping his pants. Patti witnessed this and was not amused. He was supposed to be in a relationship with her best friend Jean who also would not be amused.

Janice registered Patti’s face and sighed, resigned to the load of shit she was about to receive.

Patti followed the pair to the stairwell. She had seven flights down during which to express her displeasure.

“So, Janice, I heard they ordered a replacement bed for you. You know, because you wore the old one out.”

Janice said nothing. Six flights to go.

Patti tried a new tack.

“Did you switch majors Janice? Maybe a business degree would be helpful to keep track of your income from whoring.”

Janice wondered where this idiot had come from, and how was it that they were not only going to the same college, but living in the same dorm on the same floor? She figured she must have been some kind of evil in a prior life to be served this punishment now.

Only five flights left.

“Mark, I heard you can get a free AIDS test at the campus clinic.”

Mark laughed.

“Thanks Patti. I’ll keep that in mind in case I ever lose my mind and accidentally sleep with you.”

Patti stopped briefly, shocked into silence. Other students moved past as she stood on the fourth floor landing. She sputtered for a moment, then resumed her descent with renewed vigor, shoving aside those who had gotten between her and her prey.

“Mark! Mark! How could you do this to Jean? She loves you.”

Mark looked back at Patti as he passed the door marking the third floor.

“The only person Jean loves is Jean. That’s the problem. We went out a couple months ago, once, but she just couldn’t believe that I didn’t want to be with her.”

“You’re lying,” Patti shrilled. “Jean told me that you see each other every day.”

Mark and Janice walked on. Patti followed.

“Janice, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Janice sighed and turned to Patti. Mark stopped beside her.

“Patti, Mark and Jean do see each other every day. But they aren’t dating.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Well, it’s like this. Jean knows that Mark runs past the library every morning. So every morning she’s there, trying to get his attention.”

Patti paused, understanding, and something else, breaking across her face. The resumed their trek down the stairs.

“So you two were never really together?”

Mark shook his head.

“Then there’s hope.”

“Hope?” Mark asked.

“Yes, hope,” Patti replied.

She picked up her pace, leaving them to trail behind her.

Patti turned to Janice and Mark one last time.

“I am going to tell her how I feel, honestly, once and for all. Maybe I can still make her mine.”

They stepped out into the frigid night air to the strains of the Talking Heads’ song Burning Down the House played by some smart ass in another dorm.

Patti smiled.

“She’s my fire.”